Benedikt Isert Bender is our 2024-2025 Intern at PeaceBuilders Community. He comes from a Mennonite family from Plattsville, Ontario, Canada. Ben received a Bachelor of Arts Honours in Political Science at Brock University in September 2019. He participated in the Canadian Mennonite University's "Outtatown Discipleship School" from September 2018 to April 2019. He will be in the Philippines for a year, immersing himself in 3 Indigenous Peoples' communities, writing his perspectives as a young Canadian on the journeys and struggles of IPs in preserving their culture, protecting or regaining their Indigenous lands back, and asserting their right to self-determination.
Author's posts
REFLECTING ON ATE TALA’S THESIS ON DECOLONIZATION AND LOCALIZATION AS A PREREQUISITE TO MY CORDILLERA IMMERSION
This month, I was tasked with reading and reflecting on Ate Tala Bautista’s thesis paper, which delves into themes of decolonization, localization, and their relevance to Coffee for Peace (CFP) and PeaceBuilders Community Incorporated (PBCI). The paper not only explores these topics’ personal significance to Ate Tala but also sheds light on how they are perceived by individuals within CFP and PBCI. Reflecting on this thesis paper alongside my experiences at CFP and PBCI was particularly enlightening, especially since I lack personal experience as an indigenous person grappling with decolonization and its multifaceted implications. This reflection is a required prerequisite for my 10-day immersion (01-10 July 2024) in the Cordillera Region at the northern part of the Philippines.
Permanent link to this article: https://waves.ca/2024/07/07/reflecting-on-ate-talas-thesis-on-decolonization-and-localization-as-a-prerequisite-to-my-cordillera-immersion/
LEARNING THE THEORY & PRAXIS OF SOCIAL ENTERPRISE AS PART OF MY INTERNSHIP IN THE PHILIPPINES
As an intern, one of my responsibilities is to regularly read and reflect on various books and informative pieces. Recently, I read “How To Manage a Business that Does Good.” This activity is crucial because it broadens my understanding of key concepts related to social enterprises, peacebuilding, and the sociopolitical context in the Philippines. Reflecting on these readings helps me contemplate new ideas, challenge existing beliefs, and critically assess what I’m learning. This ongoing process of reading and reflection will work in tandem with my fieldwork. As I apply what I’ve learned in real-world settings, my perspective will be further enriched. The combination of theoretical knowledge and practical experience will enhance my ability to contribute effectively to the projects I am involved in. Over the course of the year, this integrated approach will help me expand my worldview, making me a more informed and empathetic participant in the field of social enterprises and peacebuilding.
Permanent link to this article: https://waves.ca/2024/06/10/learning-the-theory-praxis-of-social-enterprise-as-part-of-my-internship-in-the-philippines/
MY INITIAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE SHARED STRUGGLES OF THE BANGSAMORO AND PALESTINIAN PEOPLES
In my work with PBCI, I have been learning about the Bangsamoro and their fight for self-determination and control over their ancestral domain. I’ve had the privilege of gaining insight into various aspects of this struggle. I have seen the impact of armed resistance, which has played a crucial role in establishing a degree of self-determination within their ancestral domain through the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The Bangsamoro’s journey to this point has fostered a deep sympathy for others with similar causes, most notably the Palestinians, whom many Bangsamoro ardently support. This support and connection to parallel struggles have deepened my understanding of the Bangsamoro’s plight and the broader fight for self-determination and control over ancestral lands.
Permanent link to this article: https://waves.ca/2024/05/10/my-initial-understanding-of-the-shared-struggles-of-the-bangsamoro-and-palestinian-peoples/
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